Partitioning a SSD

[pcslookout]

Is it a good idea to partition a SSD ?

 

[Nec_V20]

The answer would be no if the SSD is 64GB or less.

Personally I have not partitioned the 120/128GB SSD onto which I have installed my OS in the three systems I have. The Win7 installation automatically creates two partitions anyway.

If I had a 250/256 GB or bigger SSD then I would partition it for my OS and programs simply because it is a lot less hassle to back it up.

 

[pcslookout]

Yes but is it a good idea? Will it hurt SSD performance ?

I have a Crucial M4 120 GB. Windows and my Apps are only using like 19.2 GB of space. I don't want to use all of my SSD because otherwise it slows down a lot. Just the extra space for one game on the SSD at a time. Maybe 2 but doubtful.

If it is ok of an idea an won't hurt performance how should I partition it. The reason I want to is so imaging my hard drive is easier and quicker.

 

[ShintaiDK]

It wont help your performance, it might even make it worse. And I doubt its good for its endurance either.

 

[Railgun]

The better answer is the answer to the question of what are you using it for?

Unless there's an explicit reason to, it may be better not to. However from a longevity perspective depends on the use case.

You can over-provision partitions if you have the space. Technically there will be a performance impact over time, but it goes back to the above. And that time may be a ways out in reality.

 

[corkyg]

I partition mine (Sammy 830/256GB) solely for the purpose of synching my laptop with desktop. I notice no significant change in anything. My SSD is in my laptop. Desktop is HDD.

 

[CakeMonster]

Only good reason for partition is ease of reinstalling OS. You can set all the user data folders in Windows 7/8 to folders on a secondary partition or disk (its a couple of minutes job). That way you can reinstall whenever you want without worrying about losing anything important.

 

[hackerballs]

should not slow down and an SSD likes to be half populated
short answer is no,
not with only 120g SSD, and do you have an HDD for storage to go with that? Load all games and apps on HDD and if you don't have one, GET ONE
and how are you only using 19g? Windows 7 is more than that and so is Windows 8. Are you on XP32bit?

but if you do want a partition, do it on a fresh install when you load Windows you have an option of making partitions then. Using a third party partition maker might lead to problems for you. Numerous threads on third party SSD partitions having problems.

 

[pcslookout]

should not slow down and an SSD likes to be half populated
short answer is no,
not with only 120g SSD, and do you have an HDD for storage to go with that? Load all games and apps on HDD and if you don't have one, GET ONE
and how are you only using 19g? Windows 7 is more than that and so is Windows 8. Are you on XP32bit?

but if you do want a partition, do it on a fresh install when you load Windows you have an option of making partitions then. Using a third party partition maker might lead to problems for you. Numerous threads on third party SSD partitions having problems.

That sucks. I guess I will just keep the 19.8 GB used with 99.3 GB of free space left unused. Well I don't use system restore and my page file is only 512 MB. It can grow to 8 GB though if need be. I do have 8 GB of ram though. I installed a Windows 7 64 bit SP1.

Yes I have a WD Raptor 150 GB 10,000 rpm SATA drive for all my games only. Then a Hitachi 500 GB 7200 rpm SATA for all my Data.

Why do I have to do a fresh install ? Windows 7 will partition a SSD within computer management. I was saving the 99.3 GB of free space on my SSD for VMs but don't think I will have any right now.

 

[Fred B]

The intel toolbox seems to have problems with partitions in raid 0 , they do not get recognized as ssd partition but as standalone hd . And the manuel trim with the toolbox can not be used on that partition .

 

[Murloc]

just install the games on the SSD, what did you buy a 120 GB one for otherwise?

Partitioning won't make that space more useful.

 

[hackerballs]

install the games on the Raptor or 500g and after a few years of updates, your SSD will fill up somewhat

It does not matter for game speed where you install the game as the RAM will look after it for you

I know there is discussion about this, but I take my page file off with 8gigs RAM or better

 

[pcslookout]

just install the games on the SSD, what did you buy a 120 GB one for otherwise?

Partitioning won't make that space more useful.

It will when I go to image the 120 GB for backup.

Less time to backup the 120 GB if I don't have to image the game or games as well.

 

[amitkher]

Needless partition phobia here.

Partitions won't affect the wear-levelling algorithm of the SSD controller. Partitioning wouldn't affect endurance at all. The advice to keep some space on SSDs free holds across partitions. I.e. even if one partition is perpetually full, if other partitions have free (and TRIMmed) space, wear levelling will work fine and your SSD is safe.

 

[Dufus]

Partitions can be useful for housekeeping. Also can be used as a way of providing over provisioning by not partitioning the whole disk.